Environment
In the UK about 400,000 tones of nappy waste are produced each year, filling up valuable landfill space. This equates to 4% of all household rubbish. The plastics and gel in a disposable nappy could take hundreds of years to decompose, as a landfill is not a good enviroment for the nappies to break down. Cloth nappies use some energy for manufacture and washing, but no where near the impact that disposables have on the enviroment. To minimise your 'enviromental footprint' follow sensible washing routines - don't soak, wash at 40 - 60°, minimise tumble drying and don't iron your nappies! When your little one is out of nappies they can be used for younger siblings, passed on to friends, sold on or composted.

Money
By using real nappies you could save hundreds of pounds compared to using disposables, even taking into account washing expenses. One baby in disposable nappies will cost anywhere between £800 - £1200 in two and a half years. Although the initial expense of cloth nappies is higher, it will soon pay for itself. Check with your local council to see if they run any incentive schemes - if they don't, ask them why not! Outgrown nappies can be used on subsequent children, saving you even more money and there is even a market for used cloth nappies.

Health
Cloth nappies contain none of the gel and bleaching agents associated with disposables. The gel used in disposable nappies have not been thoroughly tested to ensure it is safe, and some babies suffer a reaction to it.

They are just so cute!
Washable nappies have come a long way since the days of terries, pins and plastic pants. They now come in all sorts of funky colours and patterns, many are shaped and don't require folding, are just as absorbent and reliable, if not more reliable than disposables and fasten with applix (velcro), poppers or 'nappi nippas' - an ingenious device that grips the fabric of the nappy and holds it in place. Real nappies are great for showing off in the summer with a co-ordinating t shirt!